Roof Racks

Aaaahhhhh, roof racks; ya gotta luv em!!!!
I've got one on the 'trol and wouldn'r be without it. I know it knocks about 10% off my fuel economy. But it's a great place for the air horns, shovel, kids stretchers (in the 4" poly pipe) and I'm forever chucking stuff up there that won't fit in the back (cos it's full of fridge, recovery gear, shelving etc).
Mine's a permanent fixture.
Cheers,

vjr,

The racks are good for things like spares but if you were thinking about two spares you need to do the measurements. Each wheel is about 800mm so you would need 1.6m. Not sure if there is enough space on a dual cab unless you go over the canopy as well. You can now get swingaway carriers for the back of utes. Not sure of the cost but that may be an option as well. keep the one under the back and hang one off the swingaway.

Hi vjr,
I hate the wind noise, and it's got a deflector on it.
BUT you do'nt have to tow a trailer/camper on trips.
Mine is also permanet.
REgards
Joe

Have a look at my Rig photo, got a surf with no gutters and Rhino racks and 900x1200 basket. Suprisingly quiet, fuel effecitancy does not change toooooo bad, and if you go and by the thule basket from super cheap autos they are only $169 instead of $239. Looks the bloody same to me too! I bought my Rhino Basket second hand with all the clamps for $100.
I've got the Rhino Sportz rack bars and apparently they are rated to 90kg on the surfer with the pop riveted tracks. Fitted the bar and tracks cost me $269 from Opposite lock midland. (however not sure if I'd want 90 kgs up there!).
She's all loaded up right now out the back of work ready for a trip away tonight with the bushranger rack sack and I tell you, life is so damn easy now vs trying to squeese it all in the back.

vjr

mine isn't permanent, but it's worth it!! Picked it up dirt cheap, a full length (for the Patrol) aluminium unit that has a wind deflector front end on the 2 lockup carriers! We stick heaps of stuff up there and I have been known to have a snooze up there as well (although not while driving... :-)). We don't notice the wind noise, if any, possibly because of the diesel engine and muddy's!
I had a series of utes with canopies over the years all fitted with racks, but the racks mounted through the canopy to the floor and I have carried ladders and many lengths of copper pipe etc on them, strong as!!! which maybe what you need to go travelling!
Just a thought!

VJR ,
Apart from the fact that you can throw so much light stuff on it ( and firewood )
your car will not go in to most car parks , so you will never have to take your wife shopping again !
If you both use the same car , she will make you take it off as soon as you return from a trip . I KNOW this happens .
Willie

I 've got Rhino racks on my dual cab, two on the car, one on the canopy. Mine are a necessity for carrying ladders, I take the front two off for long trips as the wind noise can be annoying. Can't be bothered taking the back one off as the noise isn't as noticeable and it comes in handy for a dune flag mount. I find mine handy for tying a tarp to when camping in the swag when rain is forecast,

Got a 3/4 for the Patrol. Carries all sorts of stuff from spare tyres to firewood etc. Only problem I have is that there is a load limit on the roof, so I need to take the weight of the rack, calculate the weight of the long term load, then the guesstimate weight of the short term load (firewood), assess and accept the risk. Works out fine every time (so far). Probably doubled the load limit on various occassions but being a little judicious with speed over the short distance required probably helped

too much wind resistance + fuel consumption.... but worse ... you kill yourself trying to get the budgers up there and down.

check out my rhino racks and basket in the trader area ffor $300.

vjr,
After going through this process I bought a triple set of rola roof bars, the rounded ones. They can take up to 150kgs, (not that I would put that much up there), you don't hear or notice them normally, and can be fitted with various racks / bags / boots and other fittings to suit what you need. they still fit in car parks and don't affect the fuel consumption to any degree.
Rolande

If you're buying sports bars, you can't beat Rak's version. They carry more weight than the others and they're width-adjustable so you don't have to chuck them out when you swap vehicles. They sell them direct from their factory to keep their price competitive with the ordinary Rolas and Rhinos, otherwise they'd probably cost heaps. Check out www.roofracks.com. I'm not associated with them but I always support well-made Aussie products.